NFL Exec in San Diego Discusses New Stadium

What does the NFL think about the Stadium Scramble in San Diego?

By R. Stickney •Published April 14, 2015•Updated on April 14, 2015 at 6:03 pm

An NFL executive visiting San Diego for talks on the ongoing Chargers stadium debate said he hasn't seen any proposal "that would get everybody on the same page."

Eric Grubman, President of Business Ventures with the NFL, was in San Diego Tuesday for his first visit with the Chargers and the Citizens' Stadium Advisory Group.

The two sides were scheduled to meet for approximately 90 minutes to discuss efforts to construct a new NFL stadium. CSAG has identified Mission Valley as a proposed site. The Chargers have been clear they prefer a downtown location.

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“Everybody has more work to do,” Grubman said in a media briefing following Tuesday's meetings.

At this point in some relocations and renovations, Grubman said it’s not unusual for teams and cities to be on different pages. What’s different in San Diego’s discussion is the limited time frame available to work through those differences.

“A successful project is built on everyone being enthusiastic about it,” Grubman said. “It has to be something that can get done and it has to be something that can get funded.”

“As yet there hasn’t been any proposal that would get everybody on the same page.”

The nine-member CSAG stands by Mission Valley as their recommendation, according to its Chair Adam Day.

"We've said from Day 1 we need to get to a point where everyone can agree. If the city and the team doesn't agree, we're all wasting our time," Day said."We’re not here to waste our time."

He characterized the meeting as "very positive."

Day added that the panel is still focused on a May 20 deadline to present their findings to Mayor Kevin Faulconer.

The agreement states the city and county would both pay $250,000 to find the best lawyers and consultants to create a plan.

In February, the San Diego Chargers confirmed they are considering relocating to Carson, just outside of Los Angeles. The team would share a stadium with the Oakland Raiders who are in stadium negotiations of their own.